Mission Viejo Membership Survey Regarding
Potential Future Uses of the Recreation Center

The Mission Viejo HOA, as stipulated in our articles of incorporation, is an organization charged with the duty to represent and protect the common interests of residents and homeowners in our community. That interest extends to the conservation of the neighborhood scheme and our master plan (or General Development Plan) as a whole. As such the HOA is advocating for the continued use of the former “Heartwood Athletic Club” site to have a recreation center usage. Since the very beginning of the community, the Mission Viejo Company in its Annexation Agreement with the City of Aurora dedicated acreage for this private recreation facility. Incorporating private recreational acreage into the Mission Viejo General Development Plan strengthened the restriction on this site’s usage. Originally seven acres were stipulated for use for private recreation centers in the community. A planned second private recreation center, located near the Cherry Glen townhomes was shelved since it was deemed that the existing center (where Heartwood used to operate) would serve the needs of the entire community and as such special negotiations were made with the City to reduce the acreage requirement by the Mission Viejo Company to four acres (the current size of the Heartwood site).

Mission Viejo Company had clear intent to build a planned community under a general plan or scheme that incorporated a private recreation center. Current City zoning codes mandate that changes in use need to be approved by proper amendments to the General Plan. As specified by the City, any change in usage would constitute a major amendment to the General Development Plan. This would require the applicant proposing changes of use to hold two public hearings on the changes to both the planning commission and the zoning commission.

In case there is a potential buyer of our former private recreation center wanting to change the usage from that of a recreation center, the HOA would like to know how members feel about any potential change of use. Please take a moment and provide your input below on any thoughts on changes in usage of this site and how it might affect your property values. Thank You.